Your students probably think of summer as the time to stay up late, goof around with friends, ride bikes in the neighborhood, and play video games. And yes, it is all those things! But summer doesn’t have to mean that they can’t keep learning about the environment. In fact, summer poses some unique learning opportunities that they wouldn’t get any other time of the year. Below are some ideas you can suggest to your students to try and engage in when they're ready to get outside.
With extended sunlight and warmer temperatures, summer is a wonderful time for kids to learn about the importance of growing things. Gardening is a hobby that combines many different disciplines like biology, environmental science, nutrition, and others. It also gives gardeners ancillary benefits like exercise, vitamin D from sunlight, and a sense of calm that comes from growing things. Gardening is one of those special activities that can foster a lifelong love affair with nature.
Composting goes hand in hand with gardening. A successful garden is usually accompanied by a healthy compost pile somewhere close by. Over the summer, kids can see firsthand how much waste they are diverting from landfills by starting their own compost pile with leftover food scraps, paper products, and lawn clippings. Not only that, but their efforts can enhance their garden’s quality. Have students keep a journal of what they are observing in the compost pile.
High pressure systems, stagnant winds, and the warm temperatures brought by summer create optimal conditions for ground-level ozone. But, just like checking the weather, students can start checking the daily air quality forecast. Find more information on how to check the air quality in your area. Also take a look at the Air Quality lesson plan, which can help act as a guide for how to check the air quality.
Scouting is an excellent way for boys and girls to stay active during the summer while helping their community. Their highly structured environment makes it easy for your child to step right into the scouting world and begin exploring from day one. Don’t forget that scouts can earn a Take Care of Texas patch!
Many local parks, nature centers, and zoos offer day camps that teach children about the outdoors, nature, and the importance of our environment. Not only do the kids learn something, they can also make friends and have a lot of fun. Start researching what camps are available in your local area and get registered because before you know it, summer will be here.
A naturalist is simply one who observes and studies plants and animals in their natural environment. One excellent tool for naturalists of all ages and education levels is iNaturalist. This free mobile app is supported by National Geographic and helps users identify and track organisms. They download the app and photograph plants and animals they find. The app compares those images to a vast library of similar user-created images to help them to identify each species. The program saves the findings and shares valuable data with scientists. iNaturalist can be a fun tool with endless potential to participate in activities to catalog and conserve the world around you.
As a teacher who has your students’ attention for at least a few more weeks, you can still influence their continued environmental exploration through the summer—and we support your efforts to encourage them to get out and learn more about their world.
